DNVR Player Grades: right or wrong, the show went on

No one expects the day in front of them to be one they’ll remember forever. Most days are tedious and uneventful. Most days come and go like any other. Not a single person on their way to the Pepsi Center expected to learn what the whole world would learn on Sunday afternoon. But every single one of us will remember where we were yesterday—where we were when the world learned that Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna had passed away along with seven others in a tragic helicopter crash. 

For most of us, sports are almost too good to be true as a method of escapism. We turn to sports not to navigate the complexities and tragedies of everyday life, but to find an arena in which we’re allowed to experience the full emotional range—to feel alive—with almost nothing of real significance at stake. There is not a person who turns to basketball in this way and isn’t aware of the monumental impact Bryant made on the sport as a whole, as well as the myriad individuals who comprise the NBA community. 

Every player that took the court on Sunday, in either uniform, was influenced by Bryant in some way. Virtually all of them have stories to tell — from meeting the legend himself to dreaming of such a meeting, idolizing him from afar as they sought to weave their own story into basketball history. 

Not everyone felt reverence. Bryant’s past is checkered — an endless list of accomplishments tarnished by an accusation of sexual assault in 2003. So many were entitled to such a wide range of emotions. 

Thoughts were with Bryant’s family. Thoughts were with the families of the other victims in the crash. Thoughts were with Bryant’s accuser. No one knew what to feel, but everyone was tasked with going on about their day. The players were emotional as they took the court and competed in the game Bryant worked so hard to further and promote.

It might have been unfair to expect these athletes to compete earnestly — to tune out the emotions the rest of us were free to navigate more privately. But there was also something poetic about spending that afternoon in a basketball arena. It’s where Bryant was most likely to be at any given point in time. It’s where many people feel at home. 

Appropriate or not, the show went on. The Nuggets played, and won, their fourth game of the season against the Houston Rockets by a score of 117-110, splitting the season series. James Harden missed the game due to injury, and the best remaining player on the court, Nikola Jokić, dominated.

Jokić was aided by Jerami Grant, who started in Paul Millsap’s stead again, and played what might have been his best game of the season. 

Let’s go to the grades:

Honor Roll

Nikola Jokić – A 

Jokić recorded another triple-double on Sunday, putting him in sole possession of third-most in the league this season and helping to secure a crucial win for Denver. He was without his typical deft touch, missing some shots for which he’s found his groove since the start of December. But his motor was unusually high, making this the second game in a row in which he seemingly refused to lose. 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Ho-hum.

Jerami Grant – A

I don’t think Jerami Grant reads the blogs or cares what we think, but boy is he forcing those who doubted his fit publicly to reevaluate their position, myself included. He should always have been afforded time to acclimate to his new digs and teammates. It takes a minute to gel with Jokić, and the entire second unit was struggling, not just Grant. Since Millsap has gone down, Grant’s insertion into the starting lineup has served as a de facto audition for the power forward of the future role. And so far he looks up for the part.

Grant erupted for 25 points on 8-of-12 from the floor—including 3-of-3 from deep—adding four rebounds and three assists while hitting all six of his free throws.

Michael Porter Jr. – A

Porter Jr. is quickly developing into an elite shooter. He dropped 17 points in 23 minutes, hitting four of his six three-point attempts. The Nuggets sorely lack knockdown shooters — the type of guys that never seem to miss when wide open. MPJ is one of those guys. He was also just one rebound shy of what would have been his fourth double-double in five games.

Monte Morris – A-

Morris came off the bench for the second game in a row as Michael Malone opted for more size in the starting lineup, using Will Barton III as the point guard. But Morris played 35 minutes, and they were 35 of his best minutes this season. He scored 17 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and tacked on 4 assists while only turning the ball over once. He was 3-of-6 from deep.

The Class

Will Barton III – C+

Barton’s offense is sputtering of late, a few excellent performances notwithstanding, but he’s still finding ways to make winning plays, and he a made a couple when they mattered most late in the game. Still, just 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists for him.

Gary Harris – C

It was a very quiet night for Harris who scored only six points on five shots and recorded four assists in 22 minutes. With Craig on Westbrook and Harden on the bench, there simply wasn’t much asked of him in the win.

Malik Beasley – C-

Beasley always brings energy, but he forgot to bring his shot to this game. He missed all four of his three-point attempts and hit only three of his eleven attempts from the field.

Principal’s Office

Torrey Craig – D+

Craig didn’t exactly shut down Russell Westbrook, nor did he make a positive impact on offense like he did against New Orleans. He was 3-of-10 from the floor, only grabbed two rebounds, and didn’t record an assist while turning it over twice.

Game Ball